Posted on behalf of our French player:

I found it very difficult to work with England, so allying with Germany early was an easy call.

Germany seemed to end every message with some hint of how eager he was to gobble dots, so I felt a risky stab early would be a good play. I also counted on Austria doing the business in the east. Oh well.

Russia proved himself rather more unreliable than reliable, but I kept trying to work out a partnership. Never seemed to manage to make it happen. Italy and Turkey were clearly joined at the hip but I would have happily worked with either of them had they bothered to provide a reasonable proposal.

I should have just stuck with Germany and made sure to have a well guarded border, but I find that a boring style of play. Turkey and Italy clearly love it though!